Krishna and Arjuna as guise of brahmans

Happy at the words of his son, the king hugged him. He said Krishna has come to my land. I am blessed. Keep the horse tied till I get to serve Krishna. I am amazed at your skill. You single handed, fought and defeat the great warriors.
Saying this the king sat on his throne.
Krishna, took the guise of an old brahmin. With Arjuna as his disciple, they went to see the king.
Seeing brahmanas, the king got up and welcomed them and asked them the reason for their visit.

Krishna said - What should I tell of my grief. My name is Krishna Sharma. I had arranged for the marriage of my son to a girl here. On the day of the wedding, when I was coming here, I came across a lion. The lion wanted to eat my son. I asked the lion to eat me instead of my son. The lion said I was old and my flesh did not interest him. I then asked the lion what would he accept in lieu of my son. What the lion said I cannot tell you.
The king said - Do not hesitate and tell me.
Krishna said - The lion said If you get me a piece of the flesh of the king Mayurdhwaja, then I will leave your son.
Hearing this, the king agreed.
His family and courtiers were aghast.
Tamradhwaja said he was willing to go to the lion instead of his father.
The king said if the brahmin would accept him, he could go.
The brahmin said What the lion needs is half the flesh of the king. Will you give me that?
The king agreed.
When his queen heard this, she approached the brahmin. She said People say I am one side of the king. Please accept me.
The brahmin said The wife is the left side of her husband. I want the right side.

The king asked the brahmin to wait. He went and had a bath. He then asked Tamradhwaja to cut him into two. Tamradhwaja took a saw and touched the king;'s head and started sawing slowly The king had a tear in his eye. Seeing this, Krishna said - I will not accept something given with grief.

Saying this, Krishna and Arjuna walked out.

The king went and held the brahmin. He said the tear came from my left eye. Do not think it is because of the pain. My left side cried as it was not as fortunate as the right side.  Accept me.

Hearing this, Krishna said - I am Krishna and I came to test you. I saw the skill of your son and wanted to see you.

Saying this Krishna came into his own self. The king saw Vishnu with four hands. Krishna then touched the king and all his wounds vanished.

All bowed down to Krishna. Arjuna's horse was brought and given to him.

Krishna asked the king to come and attend the horse ceremony in Hastinapura.

Mayurdhawaja wanted to accompany Arjuna. He asked Tamradhwaja to take care of the kingdom.

All the soldiers who had fallen in the battle came back alive.

Arjuna resumed his journey.

Tamradhwaja reports to his father

Having won, Tamradhwaja went to his father. He bowed down to him and then with folded hands said I was on the banks of Narmada, guarding our horse, when another horse happened to come there. This was the horse of Yudhistira, guarded by Arjuna. We captured the horse and a fight started with the Pandava army.
Vrishaketu came to fight me but he could stand my might. Anusalva, the daitya came then. He used his skill and magic and had to concede defeat.
Yuvanashwa and his son came and were defeated. Hamsadhwaja and Neeladhwaja then came and faced defeat.
Babruvahan and Bhima also came and faced defeat. Satyaki and Pradyumna also came faced defeat.
Arjuna then came on a chariot, driven by Krishna. He too was defeated.

Mayurdhwaja, hearing this was happy and hugged his son.

Arjuna revived and battle with Tamradhwaja

Seeing Krishna, Babruvahan told him all that had happened. Krishna said if that be so, then let the ones who stole the heads, loose their own heads. Also, let the stolen heads return.
As soon as Krishna said this, the heads of the sons of Dhritarashtra fell off their necks. Ananta then brought the heads of Arjuna and Vrishaketu to Krishna. The heads were placed on the respective shoulders and the gem was put on their bodies.
Arjuna and Vrihaketu got up, at the touch of the gem. With the two revived, Krishna thanked and returned the gem to Ananta.
Krishna then said to Babruvahan that he had done nothing wrong. He had performed the duty of Kshatriya. He then told Arjuna to accept his son.
Arjuna hugged Babruvahan and praised his skill.
With the horse returned, Krishna asked Babruvahan to go along with Arjuna and guard the horse.

From the land of Manipur, the horse went to the kingdom of Ratnavati. The land was ruled a great and pious king called Mayurdhwaja. The king was also a great warrior. He had a valiant son called Tamradhwaja. The king was also performing a horse sacrifice and Tamradhwaja was guarding the horse.

Arjuna's horse happened to stray into the kingdom. Tamradhwaja saw the new horse and caught it. He asked his warriors to capture the horse and then he would face the son of Pandu.

Arjuna hearing this got ready for a fight. Vrishaketu entered the battlefield. He said This horse belongs to Yudhistira and has the blessing of Krishna. Who dared to capture this?

Tamradhwaja said Krishna blesses all who seek his protection. My father is performing the horse sacrifice and I have come to protect his horse. I see your horse which has been sent to me as a divine blessing. I will not let you take the horse away.

The battle of words became a battle of weapons. Tamradhwaja shot fifty arrows which Vrishaketu could not avoid. His chariot was broken and the charioteer was killed. Vrishaketu fought on the ground but soon fainted. Seeing this Yuvanashwa and Subeg came but they too could not stand for long.
Hamsadhwaja and Babruvahan came next but they too could not conquer Tamradhwaja. Sons of Krishna, Satyaki and Bhima came next.
Tamradhwaja cut off their weapons. All were defeated.
Seeing this, Arjuna came. Arjuna shot arrows which Tamradhwaja avoided and in turn wounded Arjuna.
Arjuna then prayed to Krishna. He said I am easily defeated great heroes but why am I not able to defeat this warrior. I need your help Krishna.
Krishna came to Arjuna and said this is because of the power of the prayer of Mayurdhwaja. Let us go and meet him. We will go as brahmanas. I will be the teacher and you will be my disciple. Leave the battle and come with me. The horse will be yours.

Tamradhwaja, having won the battle, went to inform his father.